Travel intelligence company OAG has unveiled its annual ranking of the world’s busiest international flight routes, with Kuala Lumpur to Singapore claiming the top spot based on the number of seats sold throughout 2023.
Despite a decline in daily flights from the pre-pandemic average of 82 to approximately 36, the route recorded 4.9 million seats this year. The flight, lasting just over one hour, holds the distinction of being the shortest international flight globally.
The top 10 busiest routes predominantly feature destinations in Asia and the Middle East. Cairo to Jeddah secured the second position with 4.8 million seats, followed by Hong Kong to Taipei with 4.6 million seats.
Here is the full list of the world’s busiest international flight routes for 2023:
- Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi: 4.9 million seats
- Cairo to Jeddah: 4.8 million seats
- Hong Kong to Taipei: 4.6 million seats
- Seoul Incheon to Osaka Kansai: 4.2 million seats
- Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita: 4.1 million seats
- Dubai to Riyadh: 3.9 million seats
- Jakarta to Singapore Changi: 3.9 million seats
- New York JFK to London Heathrow: 3.8 million seats
- Bangkok to Singapore Changi: 3.4 million seats
- Bangkok to Seoul Incheon: 3.3 million seats
On the domestic front, the busiest airline route of 2023 is Jeju to Seoul, recording 13.7 million seats. This route also held the top position in both 2019 and 2022.
The second busiest domestic route is Chitose Airport in Hokkaido to Tokyo Haneda, with 11.9 million seats, followed by Fukuoka to Tokyo Haneda with 11.3 million seats.
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City secured the fourth spot with 10.9 million seats, and the Melbourne to Sydney route rounded off the top five with 9.3 million seats.